Written Answers Monday 9 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Access for People with Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to tackle any abuse of the Blue Badge scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: There are existing powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 available to local authorities to make all disabled parking bays legally enforceable.

Access for People with Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what future plans it has to amend the Blue Badge scheme to cut down any abuse of the scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13741 on 9 June 2008.

  Powers exist under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 available to local authorities to make all disabled parking bays legally enforceable.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Alcohol Misuse

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it expects the recent changes in alcohol duty to have on binge drinking.

Shona Robison: There is evidence to suggest that price impacts on consumption, but it is only one factor which may affect how people drink. We are taking some immediate action on binge drinking through continued implementation of the Licensing Act which will end irresponsible promotions. We want to change the place of alcohol within Scotland’s culture and will shortly consult on proposals for tackling alcohol misuse which will look at a broad range of measures to lower consumption levels.

Alcohol Misuse

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it expects the recent changes in alcohol duty to have on underage drinking.

Shona Robison: There is some evidence to suggest that price impacts on consumption, but it is only one factor which may affect how people drink. We are taking some immediate action on underage drinking and have rolled out test-purchasing for alcohol. We want to change the place of alcohol within Scotland’s culture and will shortly consult on proposals for tackling alcohol misuse which will look at a broad range of measures to lower consumption levels.

Alcohol Misuse

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has had with representatives of the major supermarkets regarding the sale of alcohol at low cost and below cost.

Kenny MacAskill: I met representatives of ASDA Stores Ltd on 24 April 2008 and discussed a range of matters including the Scottish Government’s commitment to crack down on irresponsible alcohol promotions.

Alzheimer's Disease

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease; what services are available in each NHS board area for the treatment and care of Alzheimer’s disease, and what plans it has to improve such services.

Shona Robison: Alzheimer Scotland figures indicate there are at least 59,000 people with dementia. The General Practice Quality & Outcomes Framework guidance advises that Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50-75% of cases of dementia.

  Dementia is a national priority for the Scottish Government reflected in our new target for NHS boards focussed on earliest possible identification and intervention to reach more and address better the needs of all those affected, including carers and families.

  Support in each area can vary but includes partner agencies combining in a range of settings and approaches across primary and secondary NHS care, care homes and care at home. Support, wherever possible tailored to individual needs, is provided through memory clinics, a range of psychological and occupational therapies, home and care home liaison, respite and specialist in patient care.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-11928 and S3W-11929 by Shona Robison on 29 April 2008, what action it is taking to encourage graduates to enrol in September 2008 for the final intake of the graduate diploma in audiology course delivered by Queen Margaret University in order to ensure that the course meets its target of delivering 43 graduates to work in the NHS by 2012.

Shona Robison: NHS National Education for Scotland has confirmed that Queen Margaret University will be advertising places on the graduate diploma course across Scotland during the summer months in order to increase applicants to the programme. Applications will be taken up to two weeks after the start of the programme.

Audiology

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11928 by Shona Robison on 29 April 2008, how many students of the graduate diploma in audiology course at Queen Margaret University are currently employed by the NHS in Scotland as assistant audiologists while they wait to complete all of the components of their training programme.

Shona Robison: NHS National Education for Scotland has confirmed that there are three students employed in the NHS as audiology assistants while they wait to successfully complete all components of their programme. These students are from the 1st cohort of the graduate diploma course.

Business

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) numbers and (b) rateable values have been of vacant business premises in (i) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (ii) Scotland in each year since 1999.

Jim Mather: Information on the number and rateable value of vacant business premises is not held centrally. Information on premises liable for business rates is held on the Scottish Assessors Portal ( www.saa.gov.uk ), but the portal does not maintain reliable data on the vacancy history of individual properties.

Climate Change

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what target it has set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2011, and whether it intends to make this or other interim targets statutory as part of the forthcoming Climate Change Bill.

Stewart Stevenson: The Government Economic Strategy contains a purpose target to reduce emissions over the period to 2011. There are no plans to make this target statutory as part of the forthcoming Scottish Climate Change Bill.

  We have consulted on whether statutory interim targets should be set and are currently considering the responses.

Concessionary Travel

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the national concessionary fares budget is in each financial year in the period 2008 to 2011 and what these annual amounts are expressed in real terms.

Stewart Stevenson: The budget allocation for concessionary fares for the next three years is £181.4 million in 2008-09, £187.4 million in 2009-10 and £189.4 million in 2010-11. Expressed in real terms these allocations equate to £181.4 million in 2008-09, £182.4 million in 2009-10 and £179.4 million in 2010-11.

  This budget provides support for the development and delivery of concessionary travel schemes for older, disabled and young people. It covers reimbursement to bus, ferry and rail operators participating in the schemes and the marketing and survey costs of running the schemes. The vast majority of the expenditure goes to bus operators participating in the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people.

Council Tax

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated percentage payment rate of council tax was for each local authority area in 2007-08.

John Swinney: These figures are due for publication on 25 June 2008 in 2007-08 Council Tax Collection Statistics . They are therefore currently subject to National Statistics pre-release protocol. They will be available after this date at the following website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Local-Government-Finance/PubScottishCounTaxStats.

Criminal Proceedings (Reform) Act 2007

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether new guidelines have been issued to procurators fiscal in relation to the Criminal Proceedings (Reform) Act 2007.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training has taken place with procurators fiscal in relation to the Criminal Proceedings (Reform) Act 2007.

Frank Mulholland QC: All Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff involved in the new summary justice system introduced by the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 have received two days of training, supplemented by e-Learning packages. Staff have also been issued with prosecutorial guidance which is focussed on achieving the most appropriate outcome in each case at the earliest opportunity. As with all aspects of the new summary justice system, the guidance is kept under review to ensure that it is effective and progress with the implementation of the changes is monitored by area procurators fiscal.

  While it would not be appropriate to disclose the content of the training or publish this detailed prosecutorial guidance, both seek to achieve the aims of the Summary Justice System Model which was published by the Scottish Government in 2007.

Culture

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote traditional music, song and dance.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to the promotion of Scotland’s traditional culture. We consider music, song, and dance to be an important part of Scotland’s distinctive heritage.

  Funding for traditional music, song and dance is disbursed by the Scottish Arts Council. The council support a wide range of organisations and events across the traditional arts sector.

Culture

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to groups who have had their Scottish Arts Council funding cut.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Arts Council recently announced its flexible funding programme for 2009-11. Decisions on the allocation of funds are a matter for the Scottish Arts Council. Unsuccessful applicants have the opportunity to appeal against the council’s decisions. There are also other funding options that are available from the Scottish Arts Council such as "project" funding.

  Representatives from the Scottish Arts Council are meeting with representatives from the unsuccessful organisations to discuss the implications of the flexible funding decisions.

Dentistry

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population of (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire is registered with an NHS dentist, broken down by age group.

Shona Robison: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Percentage of People Registered with an NHS Dentist; by Age Group in East Ayrshire1 and South Ayrshire1 at 31 December 2007

  

 
 Age Group
 


 0-2
 3-5
 6-12
 13-17
 18-24
 25-34
 35-44
 45-54
 55-64
 65-74
 75+
 Total


 East Ayrshire
 41.2
 61.9
 70.4
 66.5
 46.2
 39.4
 38.9
 36.0
 31.2
 31.5
 27.5
 41.8


 South Ayrshire
 56.7
 99.2
 104.5
 99.1
 88.6
 93.2
 90.2
 86.1
 78.2
 69.7
 53.2
 83.3



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  Note: 1. Registrations are based on the postcode of the practice as opposed to the postcode of the patient. The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of registrations by the resident population for the particular area/age group etc. This has led to percentages greater than 100.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many customers in the Western Isles are currently connected to broadband.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the number of broadband connections in the Western Isles compares with the national average.

Jim Mather: Information on the number of national broadband connections is not held centrally. However, figures for broadband connections on the Western Isles could be ascertained by adding together the number of customers served by Connected Communities with those served by BT broadband-enabled exchanges on the islands. These latter figures can be obtained by contacting Highlands and Islands Enterprise and BT.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any arrangement was entered into with British Telecom to agree to which areas of the Western Isles it would and would not provide broadband services.

Jim Mather: There was never such an agreement with BT as to which areas of the Western Isles would or would not be provided with broadband services. BT chose which exchanges on the Islands they would enable for broadband. Their decision was a purely commercial one in which the Scottish Government had no role.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Connected Communities is obliged to offer broadband services where British Telecom chooses not to offer such services.

Jim Mather: Connected Communities has a remit to provide broadband services in those areas on the Western Isles where commercial provision is not available.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the minimum bandwidth rural broadband customers should receive.

Jim Mather: We wish to see broadband services provided extensively across Scotland and the minimum bandwidth for such services is 512kbps download and 256kbps upload.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many broadband relay sites Connected Communities has completed on the Western Isles.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many broadband relay sites Connected Communities has yet to complete on the Western Isles.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13477 on 5 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the guidance issued to HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) inspectors to mitigate unnecessary pressure on teaching staff as a result of the inspection process.

Fiona Hyslop: HMIE monitors the feedback it seeks and receives on a constant basis from head teachers, staff and professional associations on its inspection processes. It also commissions regular external, independent research involving parents and other stakeholders. As a result and over a number of years, HMIE has taken positive action to address issues raised, including mitigating unnecessary pressure on teaching staff. Such actions have included reducing the notification period for inspections and reducing the amount of pre-inspection information requested from establishments being inspected.

  HMIE works hard to ensure that inspections are as constructive and positive an experience as possible and that they lead to improvement for children and other learners. It invests heavily in induction training and continuing professional development of inspectors to ensure that inspections are conducted professionally and constructively.

  Following initial internal development from January 2008, agreement was reached in March 2008 with Scottish ministers on the principles to be applied in the new models of inspection. Starting in April, HMIE entered a period of consultation with a wide range of stakeholders on these principles and the processes to be applied in the new inspections. This consultation exercise is still on-going and the approaches are presently being tested in a set of pilot inspections following which the stakeholders involved will be asked to provide feedback. Taking account of this feedback and to give all schools and education authorities detail about the new arrangements, HMIE will provide comprehensive public information on its plans to implement the new approach in time for the start of school session 2008-09. They have been designed to take account of the changing environment within which scrutiny of public services takes place as well as the feedback received on the inspection process, and the findings from research with external stakeholders. The new inspection models are designed to ensure that any inspection has maximum impact with minimum intrusion. Inspections will be shorter, more proportionate and involve the evaluation of a reduced number of quality indicators. To help reduce bureaucracy, the new inspections will require the preparation of less documentation by the school and will build more on the school’s own self-evaluation. Greater emphasis is also being placed on professional dialogue between inspectors and staff in these new inspections to promote better partnership working and provide support to bring about improvement for all learners.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many HM Inspectorate of Education inspection reports have been subject to a complaint in each year since 2001, broken down by local authority.

Fiona Hyslop: No detailed breakdown of complaint figures are available before 2004-05. The number of inspection reports that have been subject to a complaint for the years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2007-08, broken down by authority are set out in the following table.

  

 Period
 Education Authority
 No. of Inspection Reports Subject to a Complaint


 2007-08
 Aberdeen City Council
 1


 
 Aberdeenshire Council
 3


 
 Angus Council
 2


 
 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 1


 
 East Ayrshire Council
 1


 
 East Lothian Council
 3


 
 City of Edinburgh Council
 1


 
 Falkirk
 4


 
 Fife
 2


 
 Glasgow City Council
 4


 
 Independent
 1


 
 The Highland Council
 9


 
 Inverclyde Council
 2


 
 North Ayrshire Council
 1


 
 North Lanarkshire Council
 1


 
 South Lanarkshire Council
 4


 
 Stirling
 1


 
 West Lothian Council
 1


 Total no of complaints received
 42


 
 Aberdeenshire Council
 1


 
 Argyll and Bute Council
 1


 
 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 1


 
 East Ayrshire Council
 1


 
 East Renfrewshire Council
 1


 
 City of Edinburgh Council
 2


 
 Falkirk
 2


 
 Fife
 4


 
 Glasgow City Council
 2


 
 The Highland Council
 1


 
 Inverclyde Council
 1


 
 Independent
 1


 
 The Moray Council
 1


 
 North Ayrshire Council
 1


 
 North Lanarkshire Council
 1


 
 West Lothian Council
 1


 
 unknown
 1


 Total no of complaints received
 23


 2005-06
 Aberdeen City Council
 2


 
 Dundee City Council
 1


 
 East Dunbartonshire Council
 1


 
 City of Edinburgh Council
 3


 
 Glasgow City Council
 3


 
 The Highland Council
 2


 
 North Ayrshire Council
 2


 
 Scottish Borders Council
 3


 
 South Ayrshire Council
 1


 
 West Dunbartonshire Council
 1


 Total no of complaints received
 19


 2004-05
 Aberdeen City Council
 1


 
 Aberdeenshire Council
 1


 
 Argyll and Bute Council
 1


 
 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 1


 
 Falkirk
 1


 
 Fife
 2


 
 Glasgow City Council
 2


 
 The Highland Council
 2


 
 Midlothian Council
 1


 
 North Lanarkshire Council
 2


 
 Perth and Kinross Council
 1


 
 Scottish Borders Council
 2


 
 The Moray Council
 2


 
 Western Isles Council
 1


 
 West Lothian Council
 1


 
 Independent
 1


 Total no of complaints received
 22

Energy Efficiency

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to householders wishing to measure the extent to which they waste energy.

Jim Mather: The recently launched Energy Saving Scotland advice network, funded by Scottish Government and managed by the Energy Saving Trust, provides advice and support to householders wishing to reduce their energy use and cut their fuel bills.

  Smart meters and real time displays could also play a role and we work closely with the UK Government in this policy area. The UK Government is already undertaking a major UK-wide pilot to gain a good understanding of the costs and benefits of smart meters. This pilot includes Scottish consumers and we await the results of the pilot with keen interest.

Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 has had on the number of fathers obtaining access to their children.

Kenny MacAskill: Figures on the number of fathers obtaining contact or residency orders are not held centrally. We intend to evaluate the impact of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 in due course.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on efforts to re-establish a Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service to be re-established.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have appointed MVA Consultancy to undertake a STAG Appraisal of the route. The STAG Appraisal will consider all of the options available for delivering a ferry service on this route, and will allow us to examine the economic viability of the route. MVA Consultancy is making good progress with this work, and is on target to deliver the appraisal by summer 2008.

  Following completion of the STAG appraisal, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland ministers will reach a decision about a future tender for a subsidised ferry service on this route. The Scottish Government has put funding in place to allow the service to start in 2009.

Ferry Services

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cars and (b) lorries used the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link in each of the last three years.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cars and (b) lorries used the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link in each month of 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Forth Ports. The information requested is not held centrally. However, Department for Transport do publish maritime statistics which include unitised traffic and accompanied passenger vehicles. This information is on their website at:

  http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/.

Ferry Services

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to support hauliers who will no longer be able to use the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will introduce to ensure that hauliers who used the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link do not have to revert to using road transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government recognises the potential impact on road hauliers currently using the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link. For that reason we are actively pursuing, with Forth Ports, an alternative operator for the commercially operated ferry service.

Ferry Services

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to support holiday makers who will no longer be able to use the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link.

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any operators have expressed an interest in taking on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link and, if so, which operators.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive is actively pursuing viable options to secure continuity of a commercially operated ferry service.

Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it expects to have initiated by May 2011 using (a) PFI, (b) the Scottish Futures Trust and (c) public finance.

John Swinney: Information on the Scottish Government’s investment plans for schools, working closely with local authorities, is set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan (Bib. number 45134) published on 27 March 2008.

Firearms

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in Fife applied for a firearms licence from 2002 to 2007, broken down into those that were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is published in Table 2 of the National Statistics publication series Firearm Certificates Statistics, Scotland . The Bib. numbers of the 2002 to 2007 publications are 29674, 32867, 36509, 39665, 42793, and 45751 respectively.

  Fife Constabulary was unable to supply data for the 2005 publication, except for figures relating to firearms dealers. In all other cases, in order to estimate Scotland totals, the 2005 publication included 2004 data for Fife. This was clearly stated in the publication at the time. Fife Constabulary submitted 2005 data the following year and subsequent publications reflect the new Fife totals, although some of the breakdowns which only appeared in the 2005 publication were not revisited. The information requested for Fife for 2005 is supplied in the following table:

  

 Year
 New Firearm Certificate
 Renewal of Firearm Certificate


 
 Granted
 Refused
 Granted
 Refused


 2005
 63 
 0
 253
 0

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-12925 by John Swinney on 21 May 2008, what security classification has been given to the First Minister, in relation to what threat assessment and from whom.

John Swinney: It is not the practice to comment on any minister’s threat assessment but the Scottish Government can confirm that appropriate security measures and arrangements are in place.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , how the interface with the European Union in respect of quota swaps with other member states, end-year flexibility, deductions for overfishing and response to infractions would be handled under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Fisheries is devolved and we will continue to carry out our responsibilities in respect to these issues as they apply in Scotland. Interaction with the rest of the UK is sensible as our consultation document makes clear. It also sets out our view on how these matters should be taken forward.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether there would be an opportunity in the run-up to a separate fish quota management system for Scotland for vessels registered and licensed in Scotland to re-register and re-license in another part of the United Kingdom and take their fixed quota allowances with them.

Richard Lochhead: This consultation is designed to set out proposals to safeguard the future of Scottish fishing communities. For the purposes of operating a distinct quota management and licensing system in Scotland it sets out proposals for licensing conditions of Scottish fishing vessels and for defining "Scottish quota" which is designed to reflect the current makeup of the industry in Scotland, and currently applies to the vast majority of vessels and vessel owners who deem themselves Scottish. It should have little impact on business activity.

  In the run up to implementation of any new system following consultation we have implemented a moratorium which is designed to help provide stability and ensure that at the end of the consultation process Scotland has broadly the same amount of quota under management as it did at the start. We will in exceptional circumstances depart from the moratorium.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , what the outcome would be under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland if Scotland were to overfish its quotas and the rest of the United Kingdom to underfish or be prevented from fishing so that the United Kingdom collectively remained within quota, and whether a system of penalties and compensation would operate at a territorial level.

Richard Lochhead: Scotland takes its current quota management responsibilities seriously and we will continue to do so under a Scottish quota management and licensing system. The current arrangements in respect of these issues follows the polluter pays principle and we have no plans to depart from this arrangement.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , what the repercussions for economic links would be under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government proposes that the requirement to demonstrate an economic link to the UK will remain and be varied so as to require a vessel fishing against FQAs associated with a Scottish fishing vessel licence to demonstrate an economic link to Scotland. As with the UK economic link requirements there will be a number of ways the economic link can be satisfied.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether the territorial quota allocations for the under 10-metre fleet would be based on the collective track records of the 1994 underpinning arrangements under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Our consultation paper proposes that, in moving forward, it will be necessary to establish separate quota allocations for the inshore groups in Scotland and the rest of the UK. In establishing these arrangements, we will be seeking a fair and equitable split of the current quota to these groups.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, the quota allocations for Scotland and the remainder of the United Kingdom would be based on fixed quota allowance units assigned to the fishing licences and entitlements currently issued by the four fisheries departments.

Richard Lochhead: The present system of allocating quotas on the basis of the number of fixed quota allocation (FQA) units associated with licences is well established and understood by the industry. Our proposals do not involve altering the current FQA allocation process.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , if there is to be complete separation with no provision for the free movement of licences within the United Kingdom under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, whether the holders of licences, licence entitlements and dummy licences will be given a once-only opportunity to transfer their licences, entitlements and assigned fixed quota allowance units from the jurisdiction of one UK fisheries department to another.

Richard Lochhead: It is the Scottish Government's intention that vessels and/or licences will continue to be able to transfer from Scotland to other fisheries administrations within the UK, we do however propose that transactions in future will be governed by the rules of the administration in whose jurisdiction the licensing is being completed. Where a vessel does not meet the proposed licence condition for a Scottish fishing vessel i.e. registered and administered in a port in Scotland and in membership of a Scottish recognised PO, these vessels will be given an opportunity to declare their preferred choice of administrations.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , what the implications would be for the operation of stock recovery measures for cod, hake, sole and plaice under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland and whether these would change if the European Union moves from a gear-based days-at-sea regime to a kilowatts regime.

Richard Lochhead: Scotland takes seriously our fisheries management responsibilities. While the current consultation is on proposals for a distinctive quota management and licensing system in Scotland, we will continue to implement our EU obligations, and continue to work closely with fisheries managers in other jurisdictions in UK waters and beyond to this end.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , if separate licences were required to be issued by it to enable English vessels to fish in Scottish waters under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, whether it would be able to restrict the issue of such licences to English vessels with a track record of fishing in Scottish waters and whether other fisheries departments could apply the same arrangements to Scottish vessels.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government will continue to meet our control obligations in the Scottish zone. It is not our intention to require separate licences to be issued in relation to fishing activities of other UK fleets in the Scottish zone.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, licences issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to English vessels would enable those vessels to fish in Scottish waters, subject to the same restrictions as those applying to Scottish vessels, or whether separate licences would require to be issued by the Scottish Government.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not intend to issue licenses to other UK vessels to fish in Scottish waters or to require such separate licences. These vessels will continue to work under current arrangements unless their own fisheries administrations change them.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether, under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to English vessels could discontinue licensing for English vessels or convert all category B and C licences to category A without the agreement of Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Fisheries administrations are required to manage fleet capacity and this is currently done in the UK by operating a restrictive licensing system meeting EU obligations to maintain appropriate fleet sizes. It is for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to decide as to the appropriate type of licences issued within its jurisdiction bearing in mind member state obligations to comply with EU rules.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether a separate fish quota management system would enable Scotland or the rest of the United Kingdom to allow the unlimited aggregation of whitefish licences onto additional pelagic vessels or licences for under 10-metre vessels to be aggregated onto over 10-metre vessels without reference to other fisheries departments.

Richard Lochhead: The proposals to establish a Scottish licensing system are to permit policy developments which support the needs of the industry in Scotland. Aggregations can be a useful tool in helping to deliver change in the fishing industry. Policy on aggregation needs to be carefully designed to ensure that it meets the Scottish Government’s fisheries management objectives, the forward looking business needs of the industry in Scotland taking into account the need to maintain an appropriate fleet size. We are proposing that future policy will be developed in dialogue with a Scottish licensing review group and other UK administrations will be consulted.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether it would be possible to continue to transfer or aggregate licences between English and Scottish fishing vessels under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: Yes, it is the Scottish Government’s proposal that vessel and/or licences will continue to be able to transfer from Scotland to other fisheries administrations in the UK and vice versa within the UK. In order to protect all administrations interests the Scottish Government is proposing that transactions in future will be governed by the rules of the administration in whose jurisdiction the licensing is being completed.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , what the read across to the operation of western waters and deep sea species effort restrictions would be under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland and whether separate limits and arrangements currently apply to the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish fleets.

Richard Lochhead: I am currently consulting on proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system. While Scotland takes seriously our fisheries management responsibilities, effort restrictions are not an issue in this particular consultation.

  That said, I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fisheries

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its consultation, Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland , whether fishermen in Scotland and elsewhere would be allowed to have in-membership vessels that were licensed by more than one fisheries department under a separate fish quota management system for Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: It is sensible that a Scottish quota management and licensing system should be capable of interacting with other arrangements in the UK and this is clearly recognised in the consultation paper. Under the current restrictive licensing arrangements, vessels are only licensed by one fisheries administration at any one time. Our proposals do not seek to change the current position in this regard.

  I am committed to a shared approach to fisheries management. Stakeholder views on this consultation will be vitally important in shaping the future of fishing in Scotland.

Fuel Costs

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its recent estimate of an additional £4.4 billion of North Sea Oil revenues as a result of rising fuel prices, whether it has estimated the total value of additional revenues from fuel taxation accruing to HM Treasury in 2008 and, if so, what the value is.

Jim Mather: Initial estimates by the Scottish Government suggest that if the average retail price of motor fuel during 2008-09 remained at the levels observed in May 2008 this would ultimately yield an additional £1.2 billion in VAT receipts to HM Treasury, compared to the amount estimated to have been raised during 2007-08.

  The Scottish Government has not yet estimated the additional revenues which would accrue to HM Treasury as a result of increased receipts from other forms of fuel taxation such as electricity and gas. Such estimates are difficult to obtain without an in depth analysis of detailed energy consumption statistics.

Fuel Costs

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the debate on Fuel Costs on 28 May 2008 ( Official Report , c. 9062-82), what resources it will direct towards developing and presenting to HM Treasury a workable area-based motor fuel tax discount scheme for islands and remote areas and what representations it will make on the matter.

Stewart Stevenson: Fuel taxation is reserved to Westminster, so it is for the UK Government to devote resources to working up any discount scheme. As was made clear during the Scottish Parliament debate on fuel costs on 28 May, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including a fuel tax discount scheme for the islands and remote areas.

Graduates

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how information is gathered on the financial circumstances of people who become lone parents after they graduate.

Fiona Hyslop: Information on the financial circumstances of graduates who become lone parents is not collected centrally by the Scottish Government. However HM Revenue and Customs, who have responsibility for collecting the student loan debt, obtain financial information from all tax payers, including graduates who are lone parents.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still expects the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities to publish its report in June 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: The taskforce considered a draft taskforce report at its last meeting on 4 June. We are currently finalising the report together with Universities Scotland and would expect to publish shortly with a view to wider engagement over the summer.

Higher Education

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the next round of higher education retention rates to be published.

Fiona Hyslop: Higher education retention rates are published annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency. The latest set was published on 5 June 2008 and is available on the internet at:

  http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/category/2/32/141/.

Higher Education Funding

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when universities can expect to receive new guidelines regarding the manner in which discretionary funds can be used to assist students in hardship as a result of changes to student income.

Fiona Hyslop: The Higher Education Undergraduate and Postgraduate Discretionary and Childcare Funds Guidance is updated and issued annually to all institutions. The guidance is issued at the same time that institutions are notified of their discretionary and childcare allocations for the coming academic year, which is generally at the end of May to the beginning of June each year. The guidance and allocations for academic year 2008-09 were sent to SAAS, for distribution to all institutions, on 6 June 2008.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a national accreditation scheme for property managers.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is eager to see higher standards in the residential property management sector. We have been considering options to achieve this, including proposals for a national accreditation scheme, based on recommendations of the Housing Improvement Task Force and subsequent work.

Justice

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the saving anticipated from the reform of summary justice.

Kenny MacAskill: The purpose of the summary justice reforms, as set out by the Scottish Government in the Summary Justice Reform System Model in 2007, is to improve the speed and effectiveness of the summary criminal courts in Scotland, by ensuring that only cases which should go to court do so and that those cases get there more quickly, are better prepared and progress more speedily for the benefit of victims and witnesses. A copy of the System Model paper is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number. 45774) and on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/06092618/0 .

  Whilst the programme is not primarily designed to make savings, the Scottish Government expects that, alongside improvements in the operation of the summary justice system, some cash-releasing and time-releasing savings will accrue.

  It is estimated that the legislative reforms to fines enforcement will lead to annual cash savings for the Scottish Court Service (SCS) of around £1 million. These expected cash savings derive from a reduction in the number of means enquiry courts and more administrative collection of fines through the introduction of fines enforcement officers. These cash savings will allow SCS to improve the level of court service provision they provide by investing in front line court services.

  In addition, further estimated savings arising from SCS centralising their fines collection systems and phased court unification have been identified and feature in DG Justice Efficiency Delivery Plans 14 & 18 with cash savings of £0.685 million in financial year 2008-09, £0.802 million in 2009-10 and £1.002 million in 2010-11 expected.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Efficiency Delivery Plan 1 - Summary Justice Reform outlined cash savings of £1.92 million in 2008-09 and £3.7 million in 2009-10. These savings will derive from more offences being dealt outwith the courts and a redistribution of business from the sheriff solemn courts to the sheriff summary courts and from sheriff summary courts to district courts. These expected efficiencies were taken into account by ministers in setting the allocation to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service as part of the 2007 Spending Review settlement.

  Changes to the volume of cases being prosecuted in the summary courts is expected to lead to a reduction in expenditure on legal aid estimated at £3.9 million annually by 2010-11. This is detailed at paragraph 14.1 of the DG Justice Efficiency Delivery Plan 7, which outlines the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s broader programme of efficiency improvements.

  It is expected that the summary reforms will not have a significant impact on prison numbers (details can be found at paragraph 431 of the financial memorandum for the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007).

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/55-criminalProceedings/b55s2-introd-en.pdf.

  There will be some time releasing savings for the police in relation to dealing with fewer means enquiry warrants and requiring to give evidence in court in fewer cases. It is estimated these time releasing savings will amount to some £1 million a year by 2010-11 and will allow a reprioritisation of police officer duties into front line duties.

  Each of the Efficiency Delivery Plans referred to is available in the Scottish Government’s revised Efficiency Delivery Plans 2008-2011 published on 30 May 2008. A copy of the document is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number: 45688), and also on the Scottish Government website.

  DG Justice Efficiency Delivery Plans 7 and 14 are available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/EDPMarch2008/Q/EditMode/on/ForceUpdate/on/Page/8.

  DG Justice Efficiency Delivery Plan 18 is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/EDPMarch2008/Q/EditMode/on/ForceUpdate/on/Page/11.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Efficiency Delivery Plan 1 is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/EDPMay2008/Q/EditMode/on/ForceUpdate/on/Page/3.

Justice

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what proportion of custody cases have been determined by awarding custody to the father in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 18 and under were convicted of possession of an offensive weapon in the Grampian Police area in 2006-07.

Kenny MacAskill: In the Grampian police force area twelve persons aged 18 and under had a charge proved for having in a public place an article with a blade or point, and nine had a charge proved for possession of an offensive weapon in the financial year 2006-07, where these were the main offences.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions for possession of an offensive weapon there were in the Grampian Police area in 2006-07.

Kenny MacAskill: In the Grampian police force area 74 persons had a charge proved for having in a public place an article with a blade or point, and 81 had a charge proved for possession of an offensive weapon in the financial year 2006-07, where these were the main offences.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were charged with possession of an offensive weapon in the Grampian Police area in 2006-07.

Kenny MacAskill: The recorded crime data held centrally has the number of crimes recorded by the police and the number recorded as detected (that is, there is sufficient evidence to justify consideration of criminal proceedings). We cannot provide any information on the number of people involved in crimes, since it is possible that individuals may be responsible for more than one of the crimes recorded. In 2006-07, 375 crimes of possession of an offensive weapon were detected and 187 crimes of having in a public place an article with a blade or a point were detected.

Legislation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13039 by Bruce Crawford on 22 May 2008, how many of the seven Bills introduced since May 2007 had a degree of work or preparation under way by civil servants prior to May 2007.

Bruce Crawford: The seven bills were informed by advice prepared by civil servants since May 2007. I am unable to comment on exchanges that civil servants may or may not have had with ministers in the previous administration.

Local Authorities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have carried out equality impact assessments on their draft single outcome agreements.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is written evidence that local authorities have carried out equality impact assessments on their draft single outcome agreements.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all equality impact assessments on draft single outcome agreements will be made publicly available.

John Swinney: Councils have a duty to properly assess their activities for equalities impact. It is not for the government to compel a council to undertake an EQIA. However as the Scottish Government is engaged with local authorities in the development of single outcome agreements, it recognises its responsibility to work with councils to ensure that equality is properly considered and reflected.

  Under the arrangements set out in the concordat between the Scottish Government and local government, each council will be required to submit an annual report setting out progress and achievements towards the national outcomes. This will include National Outcome 7, which relates to tackling inequalities in Scottish society.

Local Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have the power to issue bonds.

John Swinney: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 gives local authorities the power to borrow money for specific purposes. They are permitted to raise the money through a variety of means, including bonds.

Local Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have the power to band together to issue Scottish municipal bonds.

John Swinney: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 gives local authorities the power to borrow money through a variety of means, including by the issue of bonds, for purposes for which they have a statutory borrowing power. The act also allows two or more local authorities to combine to exercise their statutory borrowing powers jointly. It would be for the local authority to ensure it wasn’t acting ultra vires.

Local Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have the power to issue bonds for capital projects outwith their geographic boundaries.

John Swinney: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 gives local authorities the power to borrow money for specific purposes. This includes capital expenditure projects, or lending to other local authorities for capital expenditure projects. They are permitted to raise the money through a variety of means, including bonds.

Local Government Finance

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of borrowing (a) £10,000, (b) £100,000, (c) £1 million, (d) £10 million and (e) £1 billion through a bond issue.

John Swinney: The cost of borrowing would be dependent on the prevailing market conditions at the time.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to meet its targets of a zero increase in antidepressant prescribing by 2009-10 and a 10% reduction in future years.

Shona Robison: The recently established Mental Health Collaborative will be working with every NHS board area to drive the delivery of this target through change and improvement. This attention and focus will complement the integrated care pathway standards for depression and the work with and through NHS Education for Scotland to build the infrastructure around psychological therapies. We will monitor and measure change through these and other data systems/processes.

  In further support we have published a guidance report last year setting out the care advantages of and steps toward social prescribing for those with anxiety and depression or other mental illness.

  That report, Developing Social Prescribing and Community Referrals for Mental Health in Scotland (Bib. number 45194) provides current service examples and offers guidance on steps that can be taken to encourage and arrange access to the arts; creativity, physical activity, learning, volunteering and other approaches for the potential positive impact these pursuits can have on mental wellbeing. The report sets out roles for Community Mental Health Partnerships and others.

  Attention on progress is maintained through our focus on delivering the now four HEAT targets for mental health which include action on alternatives to medication and on reducing admissions to hospital care both of which have relevance to the objectives set.

Non-Distributing Profit Model

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what rates of interest are being paid to lenders in relation to the Aberdeen PPP/NPDO schools projects.

John Swinney: This is a commercial matter for Aberdeen City Council, as the procuring body for the NPD schools project.

Non-Distributing Profit Model

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what rates of interest are being paid to lenders in relation to the Falkirk PPP/NPDO schools projects.

John Swinney: This is a commercial matter for Falkirk Council, as the procuring body for the NPD schools project.

Organ Donation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people volunteered for organ donation in each month of 2007-08 and what plans it has to continue the campaign to encourage organ donation.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of new registrations on the NHS Organ Donor Register on a UK basis for each of the months between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008, by calendar month of registration, are as follows:

  

 Month
 Registrations


 2007
 


 April
 62,589


 May
 67,861


 June
 120,392 


 July
 86,670


 August
 128,108


 September 
 88,795


 October 
 101,938 


 November
 121,513


 December
 59,430


 2008
 


 January 
 112,268


 February
 116,090


 March
 80,903


 Total
 1,146,557



  Source: UK Transplant.

  A further TV advertising and publicity campaign is being planned for July, starting in Transplant Awareness Week.

Planning

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8571 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, when Scottish ministers will make a decision on the Fife Structure Plan.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are still considering the Fife Structure Plan in the light of representations received on the Housing Land Requirement Re-appraisal and on other procedural matters.

Prison Service

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the new prison facility at Bishopbriggs will be ready for occupation.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is expected that the new prison at Bishopbriggs will be ready for occupation by the end of 2011.

Prison Service

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) capacity of and (b) numbers detained in each of Scotland’s prisons was at 31 May 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The design capacity and population figures for each establishment as of May 31 2008 are illustrated in the following table.

  

 Establishment
 Design Capacity
 Total Population


 Aberdeen
 155
 236


 Barlinnie
 1018
 1461


 Cornton Vale
 375
 386


 Dumfries
 179
 190


 Edinburgh
 756
 822


 Glenochil 
 670
 721


 Greenock
 255
 304


 Inverness
 104
 143


 Kilmarnock
 500
 650


 Open Estate
 425
 336


 Perth
 722
 753


 Peterhead
 306
 305


 Polmont
 623
 661


 Shotts
 537
 540

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people serving custodial sentences have escaped or absconded since May 2007, and how many of those have been (a) recaptured and (b) at large for over (i) three months and (ii) six months.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No prisoners have escaped since May 2007. The number who have absconded is illustrated in the following tables.

  Table 1 shows the total number of prisoners recaptured and of those the number who remained at large more than (a) three months, or (b) more than six months.

  Table 2 shows the number of prisoners remaining at large and of those the numbers who have remained at large more than (a) three months, or (b) six months.

  Table 1

  

 Total Absconds
 Total Recaptured
 At Large Greater Than 3 Months
 At Large Greater Than 6 Months


 71
 68
 1
 2



  Table 2

  

 Total Remaining at Large
 At Large Greater Than 3 Months
 At Large Greater Than 6 Months


 4
 0
 2

Public Private Partnerships

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12806 by John Swinney on 16 May 2008, whether it will list the 10 PPP projects that have received approval by the Scottish Government since May 2007.

John Swinney: The 10 PPP projects that have received approval by the Scottish Government since May 2007 are listed in the following tables:

  Table 1: Non Profit Distributing (NPD) projects

  

 Falkirk Schools (Second Project)


 Aberdeen City Schools



  Table 2: Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects

  

 NHS Forth Valley - Clackmannanshire Community Health Services


 NHS Forth Valley - Forth Valley Acute Hospital


 NHS Fife - St Andrews Community Hospital and Resource Centre


 East Dunbartonshire Schools


 West Lothian Schools (second project)


 Perth and Kinross Schools


 Dumfries and Galloway Schools


 West Dunbartonshire Schools

Public Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which public transport projects have been approved since May 2007; what the total capital cost is, and what the comparative figure was for the previous year.

Stewart Stevenson: In the June 2007 transport investment statement the Scottish Government committed to the following:

  Airdrie to Bathgate rail link project - £300 million to £375 million

  Glasgow Airport Rail Link - costs currently under review

  Edinburgh Waverley Station - estimated to cost £150 million

  Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link - £80 million to £85million

  In September 2007 the Edinburgh and Glasgow improvements programme was announced at a cost of £500 million to £1,050 million and £500 million was committed to the Edinburgh tram project.

  In March 2008 the government confirmed its commitment to the Borders railway project, with costs expected in the range of £235 million to £295 million

  Ministers also approved the construction of the replacement vessel for the Islay ferry services. This vessel which, including commissioning, will cost £24.5 million, has been commissioned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), and will be funded by loans from the Scottish Government to CMAL.

  A number of smaller rail projects, with a total cost of £6 million have been announced between March 2008 and June 2008.

  In the previous year £25 million was announced for smaller rail projects.

Rail Services

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further consideration has been given to the Glasgow crossrail proposal since the Members’ Business debate on 17 April 2008; what the Executive’s current position is, and when it expects to make a decision on the project.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has received a copy of the final STAG report from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, and it is being considered in the strategic transport projects review, which will report to ministers in the summer.

Rail Services

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the recent decision to simplify the rail pricing structure in the United Kingdom.

Stewart Stevenson: Officials in Transport Scotland had regular dialogue with the Department for Transport (DfT) to achieve the new simplified structure. We recognise the need for the fares system to be easily understood by passengers and we supported the work by DfT to achieve this outcome.

Rail Services

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations are placed on providers of cross-border rail services to maximise the uptake of underused services.

Stewart Stevenson: Cross Border rail services are the responsibility of the Department for Transport. I understand it is already in the commercial interests of the train operating companies to maximise revenue and, accordingly, it has not proved necessary to impose mandatory requirements to maximise the uptake of underused services.

Regeneration

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it or its agencies give to the development of a network of local craft fairs across Scotland.

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the designation of a Scottish craft town, similar to the book town model that has assisted in the regeneration of Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is a strong supporter of the traditional crafts sector in Scotland, which are an expanding part of Scotland’s successful creative industries.

  The Scottish Arts Council is pursuing a range of initiatives to develop opportunities for the promotion of Scottish makers’ work.

  I have asked the Scottish Arts Council to write to you directly to provide further information and detail on the work they are undertaking in relation to the crafts sector.

Roads

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which trunk road projects have been approved since May 2007; what the total capital cost is, and what the comparative figure was for the previous year.

Stewart Stevenson: The following projects have been approved for construction contract award since May 2007 at a capital cost of £488 million compared to projects valued at £75.4 million which were approved for construction contract award from May 2006 to April 2007.

  

 A9 Helmsdale to Ord of Caithness Improvements Phase 2
£5,446,234


 A77 Haggstone Climbing Lane and Glen App overtaking improve
£18,710,664


 M8 Harthill Footbridge Replacement
£5,112,438


 A76 Glenairlie Improvement
£4,903,789


 A7 Auchenrivock
£7,733,975


 M74 Completion Scheme
£444,715,352


 A737 Roadhead Roundabout
£1,350,728

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any commitment was given by ministers in the previous or current administrations to carrying out a full review of the costs of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route prior to the issue of Draft Road orders.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1348 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial contribution from Aberdeen City Council to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project is expected to be.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2502 on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether in view of the current financial situation of Aberdeen City Council, ministers consider that the council is still in a position to make its expected contribution to the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Aberdeen City Council.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the up-to-date cost-benefit ratio would be for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as a stand-alone project.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10859 on 27 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the options that were considered for the remit of the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide clarification on the detail of the remit of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Project given to Reporters.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the public local inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, including the remit, can be found at the reporter’s website www.awpr-pli.org .

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive why it chose to exclude climate change implications and effects on congestion levels from the remit of the inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive why it chose to exclude any discussion of alternative transport options from the remit of the inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive why it chose to exclude from the remit of the public inquiry any discussion of the need in principle for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers confirmed in their statement on Transport to Parliament on 27 June 2007 that the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is vital to the north-east and that they were committed to its delivery.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the scope of the remit of the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Peripheral Route project is too restrictive.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider delaying the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project in order to address significant public concern over the restrictive remit of the inquiry.

Stewart Stevenson: No.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the benefit to cost ratio of 5:1 for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Project was calculated and what assumptions and evidence were used as a basis for the calculation.

Stewart Stevenson: The benefit to cost ratio has been evaluated over a 60-year period in accordance with current national guidance and methodology.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial contribution (a) Aberdeen City Council, (b) Aberdeenshire Council and (c) the Executive will make to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and whether these contributions are based on the original cost estimate for the project or the current final cost estimate.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2502 on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Science

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11467 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 April 2008, what steps it is taking to ensure that people, especially young people, in Kilmarnock and Loudoun are able to access science projects funded by its science engagement grant scheme.

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11467 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 April 2008, whether it is satisfied with the range of science projects from all parts of Scotland applying for funding from its science engagement grant scheme.

Fiona Hyslop: The key aim of the Science Engagement Grant scheme is to support informal science engagement outreach activities across Scotland. This competitive grant scheme is advertised on the Scottish Government website ( www.scotland.gov.uk ) and is open to all competent science engagement providers to bid for grant.

  No bids were received specifically from organisations in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun area for 2008-09. However, Scottish Government has funded initiatives such as Generation Science, a touring science engagement programme managed by the Edinburgh International Science Festival, which this year visited a number of schools in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun area.

  While the Scottish Government is keen that successful projects reach as wide an audience as possible, it has not to date taken any steps to target specific areas of Scotland: rather, it responds to bids received. The assessment criteria for the Science Engagement Grant scheme are kept under constant review and currently include a weighting for bids that target areas where engagement is currently low.

Scottish Enterprise

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire has invested in Kilmarnock and Loudoun since May 1999.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many discussions it has had with HM Treasury regarding the establishment of the Scottish Futures Trust and what views were expressed by Treasury representatives.

John Swinney: I have written to the Chief Secretary to HM Treasury to inform her of progress on the Scottish Futures Trust’s development.

Scottish Government Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cars are available in its car pool.

John Swinney: There are 150 vehicles in the Scottish Government fleet, 137 cars and 13 commercial vehicles. This includes the cars allocated to the Government Car Service (Scotland).

Special Advisers

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many special advisers it has; what the comparative figure was in May 2007; to whom each adviser is responsible, and what its total cost is for special advisers.

John Swinney: There were no special advisers in post on 1 May 2007 as all had resigned in the lead up to the Scottish election. Currently, there are nine special advisers of which seven are full-time appointments, one a part-time appointment and one an unpaid appointment.

  The current special advisers and their specific responsibilities are as follows:

  

 Name
 Specific Responsibilities


 Duncan Hamilton (part time)
 Political adviser to the First Minister


 Professor Sir Neil McCormick (part-time unpaid)
 Adviser to the First Minister on Europe and external relations


 Kevin Pringle
 Strategic co-ordination across all portfolios, political spokesperson and senior adviser on communications issues 


 Stephen Noon
 Senior adviser on policy matters across all portfolios


 Noel Dolan
 Senior policy adviser to the Deputy First Minister 


 John McFarlane
 Policy adviser, supporting Mr Noon


 Jennifer Dempsie
 Communications adviser and Parliamentary liaison


 Geoff Aberdein
 Advice on diary issues and support for Parliamentary Liaison Officers


 Will McLeish
 Support on communications issues



  The total annualised costs (including ERNIC, and employer pension contributions) for special advisers for financial year 2006-07 was £854,376. The estimated annual costs of the current team are £566,026.

Student Finance

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many postgraduate students from Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency have been asked to repay the graduate endowment following the removal of the right to defer payment until the completion of study.

Fiona Hyslop: In the Scottish parliamentary constituency of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 36 postgraduate students have been asked to repay the graduate endowment following the removal of the right to defer payment until completion of postgraduate study.

Student Finance

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) is running two or more systems concurrently for assessing means-tested student loans and bursaries, for example to distinguish between full-time and part-time students.

Fiona Hyslop: No. SAAS uses a single system for assessing means-tested student loans and bursaries.

Student Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances disabled students are not eligible for the disabled students allowance.

Fiona Hyslop: Students who are not eligible to apply for the disabled students allowance (DSA) are:

  those who do not meet the residence conditions as set out in the Students’ Allowance (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (as amended);

  those who are studying a course that the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) does not support;

  part-time students undertaking less than 50% of a full time course;

  Open University students studying less than 60 credits;

  students undertaking a course below HNC level (except those doing a SAAS funded adult education course at one of the UK’s adult education residential colleges);

  students who are receiving funding from their local education authority, and

  postgraduate students who are receiving funding from a research council or the social work department.

  However, these students can receive support via other means. For example, students undertaking a further education course can apply for an additional support needs learning allowance. Colleges and universities also have a responsibility under the Disability Discrimination Act to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities are not at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students when attending their institutions. This can include providing, within reason, equipment, services, appropriate access to buildings and that adjustments are made to teaching practices and assessments. This duty means that the needs of all disabled students should be met whether or not they receive the DSA or the additional support needs learning allowance. In addition, institutions are also allocated additional funding through the disabled students premium and extended learning support to support disabled students. This funding can also be used to support students who are not eligible for the DSA.

Tourism

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Scottish residents, (b) residents from the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) other tourists have visited (i) East Ayrshire, (ii) Ayrshire and Arran and (iii) Scotland in each year since 1999.

Jim Mather: Data on the number of visitors at local authority level is not held centrally. Data on the number of visitors to Ayrshire and Arran and Scotland is provided in the following table.

  Ayrshire and Arran (000)

  

 
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 Total UK
 1,390
 870
 1,210
 990
 1,090
 1,090
 940
 670


 Origin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Scotland
 848
 418
 593
 426
 *534
 *534
 461
 369


 Rest of UK
 542
 452
 617
 564
 *556
 *556
 479
 301


 Overseas 
 100
 90
 80
 70
 80
 80
 **170
 **170



  Scotland (000)

  

 
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 Total UK
 18,530
 18,960
 17,540
 18,530
 17,520
 17,520
 14,870
 13,280


 Origin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Scotland
 9,265
 10,238
 8,741
 9,079
 *8,650
 *8,650
 6,750
 6,348


 Rest of UK
 9,265
 8,722
 8,799
 9,451
 *8,870
 *8,870
 8,120
 6,932


 Overseas 
 1,860
 1,690
 1,590
 1,580
 1,570
 1,880
 **2,390
 **2,730



  Source: ONS International Passenger Survey, and UK Tourism Survey (UKTS).

  Note: *UKTS data for 2003 and 2004 are considered unreliable. Methodology changed from 2005 - earlier totals not comparable.

  **ONS International Passenger Survey methodology changed from 2005 – Prestwick added as an interview point – so previous years not comparable.

  Further data is available at:

  Tourism in Ayrshire and Arran 2006

  http://www.visitscotland.org/ayrshire___arran_2006-2.pdf.

  Tourism in Scotland 2006

  http://www.visitscotland.org/tourism_in_scotland_2006_national.pdf.